Valve control apparatus



y 2, 1953 A. s. PARKS 2,638,110

VALVE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l 54 49 55 548b; 48a 40 s 48 50w 45 4/ 45 2 2 57 46 Q Q O 44 Asbu ry 5 Parks 3%fivZi/W y 1953 A. s. PARKS 2,638,110

VALVE CONTROL AP fARATU-S Filed Oct. 16, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O I 53 llO 4 5 fvg'z :JWUQ/WDM/ Asburs 5. Parks Patented May 12, 1953 UNITEDSTATES PATENT, OFFICE VALVE CONTROL APPARATUS 1 Asbury S. Parks,Houston, Tex. Application October 16, 1947, Serial no; 780,177

7 Claims.- (01. ism-155) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in control apparatus.

As is Well known, the use of auxiliary lifting mediums, such as gas orair, for lifting well fluids to the surface has become general practicein the petroleum industry. Usually the admission of the lifting mediuminto the well liquid column is controlled by a flow valve which isactuated by the differential in pressures acting on opposite sidesthereof, or by an intermitter valve which is operated at predeterminedintervals, in accordance with the entrance of the well liquids into thewell tubing or flow string. Ordinarily, the intermitter type of valve isactuated solely by an increase in pressure of the lifting medium in theannular space outside the well tubing or flow string and this pressureis controlled by a timing mechanism at the surface. The timing mechanismmust necessarily be capable of properly timing the pressure increaserequired to actuate the intermitter valve and to accurately control saidpressure under all conditions.

- It is one object of the present invention to provide an improvedsurface control apparatus which is particularly adapted for use incontrolling the pressure of a lifting medium, such as gas or air, whichis utilized for lifting well fluids to the surface through a well tubingor flow string.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved surfacecontrol apparatus which is constructed so as to accurately control thetiming cycle of operation of an intermitter valve unit; said apparatusalso having means for controlling the pressure of the lifting mediumwhich is normally present in the annular space outside the flow stringand which is utilized to actu ate said valve unit, whereby efiicientoperation of the unit under all conditions is assured.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved surfacecontrol apparatus, of the character described, which combines a timingmechanism with a pressure regulating device, with the timing mechanismfunctioning to operate the main inlet valve in accordance with a desiredtime cycle; the arrangement being such that the regulating device isinactive when the timing mechanism is holding the main valve closed andbeing rendered operative to control the pressure when the main valve isopened by actuation of said mechanism, whereby accurate timing ofoperation, together with control of pressure, is had.

- Still another object of the invention is to provide a surface controlapparatus for admitting a lifting medium to a well conductor and havingan improved timing mechanism for controlling the timing cycle, whereinsaid mechanism is first actuated by a clock-controlled element to beginthe timing cycle and is rendered inactive to end the timing cycle bymeans entirely independent of the clock-controlled element, whereby thetiming cycle may be accurately controlled separately of said element;the means which ends the timing cycle being either a manually adjustableelement forming part of the timing mechanism or being apressure-actuated member operated by the lifting medium pressure.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved surfacecontroller wherein the timing mechanism for controlling the timing cycleincludes a pivotally mounted arm adapted to be actuated by a clockcontrolled element and being arranged to be moved into engagement withthe outer end of a pivoted control member to start the timing cycle; thecontrol member having means pivoted thereto and arranged to co-act witha fixed stop member for disengaging the control member at any desiredtime to end the timing cycle, said control member and its co-actingmeans being entirely independent of the clock controlled element,whereby the length of the timing cycle is controlled solely by theadjustment of the co-acting means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus ofthe character described I wherein a pivoted arm is movable by a clockcontrolled element and wherein a second arm is pivoted above andopposite to the first arm so that the outer end of the second armoverhangs said first arm; the second arm having a pivoted actuatorconnected to its outer end so that when the firstarm is moved upwardly,it will engage said actuator to swing the second arm, whereby a valvemeans connected with said second arm is operated to control theoperation of a main valve device.

The construction designed to carry out the inventionwill be hereinafterdescribedtogether with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing,wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a well bore having a fluid conductor andan intermitter valve therein and showing a control apparatus,constructed in accordance with the invention connected thereto,

Figure 2 is a viewpartly in section and partly 2,ecs,1 1o

in elevation of a control aparatus constructed in accordance with theinvention,

Figure 3 a partial sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the operating elements of the timingmechanism and illustrating their position at the start of the timingcycle,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the parts in position atthe end of the timing cycle.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail of the pilot valve.

In the drawings (Figure l), the numeral i0 designates a well bore havinga well casing l I extending therethrough. A well fluid conductor ortubing l2 extends axially through the well casing in the usual mannerand the annular space A between said tubing and the casing is packed ofinearer the lower end of the well bore by a suitable well packer l3. Thewell .fluids entering the extreme'lower end of the well bore enter thewell tubing or conductor (2' and flow upwardly therein to apredetermined level, in accordance with the particular well conditions,the level being presumed to be at the dotted line L. An interrnitter orcontrol device it is mounted in the conductor 82 and is arranged tocontrol the admission of a lifting medium, which is in the annular spacebetween the casing and the tubing. into the well tubing, whereby thewell liquid within the tubing above the device It is lifted to thesurface.

The lifting medium, such as gas or air, is adinitted to the annularspace through an inlet conductor or pipe it which connects to a casinghead It mounted on the upper end of the well casing id. The conductor orpipe it has a main valve ll mounted therein and the. control. apparatus,constructed in accordance. with the present invention, is utilized tocontrol operation of the valve ll, whereby the lifting medium underpressure is admitted to the annular space at the proper andpredeterminedintervals. It might be.

noted that the pressure of the lifting medium which will be presumed tobe gas, is. maintained at a predetermined amount within the annularspace.- The particular predetermined. pressure of the normally presentlifting mediumis dependent upon the particular adjustment of the inter-Initter device id and said pressure is just insuflicient to actuate theintermitter and admit the lifting gas to the 'well tubing. Atpredetermined intervals, the main control valve 1"! is opened to admitadditional lifting" gas under pressure to the annular space and thisadmission of additional gas raises the pressure in the annular space toactuate the intermitter' device M and'thereby inject-the lifting" gasinto the well liquid column within said tublng. The main control valvel1 remains'open for a predetermined time and then closes so that theintermitter device it is again shutofi, upon the reduction of pressurein the annular space tov a predetermined point. The apparatus remainsinactive until such time as the well liquids have again entered the welltubing to approximately the level L, at which time the main valve IT isagain opened to repeat the operation. This particular method of liftingwell liquids to the surface is in generaluse and the present inventionrelates primarily to the control mechanism which is associated with themain valve H. v

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the mainvalve H which controls flowthrough the conductor or line it comprises a valve housing lla having adownwardly opening valve member l8 therein. The valve member is carriedby a stem i9 which extends upwardly into a diaphragm housing 26. Anenlarged disk 2% is secured to the upper end of the valve stem andengages the underside of a diaphragm 22, being held in engagementtherewith by a coil spring 23. It will be evident that the springnormally urges the valve stem and valve memberit to a raised orclosedposition.

The diaphragm 22 is disposed within a diaphragm chamber 24 which hascommunication through a port 25 with a second diaphragm I chamber 2Et.-A. second diaphragm .2? is mounted aphragm 29 normally engages the upperend of the follower 23 and it might be noted that the relationship inthe area between the smaller diaphragm 2S and the intermediate diaphragm27 may be of any desired ratio. The upper surface of the smallerdiaphragm 29- is exposed through a'co-nduetor or line 3E9 to thepressure on the downstream-side of the valve element l8,.-said conductorbeing suitably connected into the main supply pipe 55. A suitablepressure gauge 35 is connected to the conductor 56, said gauge beingsupported upon a base or supporting plate 36 which is mounted onsuitable brackets 31 extending upwardly from the diaphragm housing 29.The intermediate diaphragm has its opposite sides exposed throughpassages E-l and 32, respectivelmto a regulated pressure which is nor--mally exactly the same, whereby the diaphragm 2i is in balance. Thevregulated pressure may he referred to as the pilot pressure and isalways less than the pressure. being controlled. in the main supply pipe#5. Under such a. condition with pressures equalized, across thediaphragm, ill the pressure acting through the. line 39 on the upperdiaphragm 28 forces the intermediate diaphragm Zl over the communicatingopening 25 to seal said opening. Any pressure above the lowermostdiaphragm 22 which co-acts with the valve stem may escape through ableeder port or passag 33 which is adiustahly regulated by a suitable,bleedervalve 34.

It will be evident that when the. pressures across. the intermediate.diaphragm 2? are balanced or equal, the pressure: from the-downstreamside of the supply pipe it will move the upper and intermediatediaphragms downwardly to close the communicating opening or port 25because as stated, the control pressure in the main line always greaterthan the pilot or regulated pressure in passages 3i and 32. Thus, eventhough the regulated pressure is acting against the under side of theupperdiaphragm 29 the controlled pressure in line 30 overcomes the sameto hold upper diaphragm 29 and the intermediate diaphragm 2? in alowered position. Whenthis condition exists, the coil spring 23maintains the valve member it in a closed position. If the pressureacting on the upper surface of the intermediate diaphragm H is relieved,the pressure normally present and acting against the underside of theintermediate diaphragm will lift said diaphragm and uncover thecommunicating port 25, whereby this pressure may act against thelowermost or actuating diaphragm 22. This is possible because the areaof intermediate diaphragm 21 is greater than the area of the upperdiaphragm 29 and a lesser pressure will function to move both diaphragmsupwardly. The bleeder Valve 34 is adjusted so thatthe pressure enteringthe intermediate '-port is admitted more rapidly than it can escapethrough said bleeder valve with the result that said pressure acting onthe diaphragm 22 moves the valve stem and valve member Ill downwardly.against the tension of the spring .23 to thereby open the main valve andadmit the lifting gas into the supply pipe i i and thenceinto theannularspace between the well casing andlthe well tubing.

So long as the pressure on the downstream side of'the valve 18. does notexceed a pressure which would be sufficient to overcome the normalregulated pressure acting below the intermediate diaphragm, the valvewill remain open. It is obvious that by maintaining the pressure whichacts against the underside of the intermediate diaphragm at apredetermined point, the pres sure which must be reached in line inorder to close the valve is accurately controlled. As the pressure onthe down stream side of the valve member it exceeds apredeterminedamount in accordance with the ratio between. the upper diaphragm 29 andthe intermediate diaphragm 2?, and also in accordance with thecontrolled pressure acting on said diaphragm 23, then in that event thisexcessive pressure acting on the upper diaphragm forces the intermediatediaphragm to close the communicating port or opening When this occursthe pressure above the actuating diaphragm 22 escapes through thebleeder passage 33 and allows the spring to close the main valve.Closing of the main valve may also be accomplished if the pressuresacting on opposite sides of the intermediate diaphragm are again equalso as to balance said diaphragm. In such case it is evident that thepressure acting on the upper diaphragm 29 would move the intermediatediaphragm downwardly to close opening or port 25.

It thus becomes obvious that the particular de vice illustrated may beopened by reducing the pressure which is normally acting above theintermediate diaphragm Zl'. Closing of the main valve may beaccomplished either by again equa izing pressures across theintermediate diaphragm 2"! or by an excessive increase in the pressureon the downstream side the supply pipe t5, the particular increase inpressure at this point necessary to close the valve being in accordancewith the particular construction of the device and the ratio between theareas of the diaphragms 29 and 27. It is pointed out that the regulatingdevice and main valve shown and described herein is fully disclosed andclaimed in applicants co-pending application. Serial No. 637,272 filedDecember 26, 19%. It is described herein to more fully explain thespecific opera tion of applicants improved timing mechanism. and also todisclose the combination of the re ulation device and valve, with atiming mechanism which combination is not shown in co-pendingapplication.

The timing mechanism which is generally indicated at T is arranged tocontrol the pressure which is acting on the upper end of theintermediate diaphragm 2 1.. This timing mechanism is mounted upon thesupporting or base plate 36 and includes a clock-controlled timing wheelThe timing wheel is rotatable and is provided with a plurality ofoutwardly extending timing pins 39 which may be properly placed in theopenings in the wheel to control the timing cycles. As is the usual casewith timing wheels, said wheel is rotated at a predetermined speed by aclock mechanism (not shown).

Anupright supporting plateau is securedto the base36 and extendsupwardly behind the timing element or wheel 38. An actuating arm M hasone end pivoted at 12 to the upri ht sup porting plate so and a suitablespacer 43 which is interposed between the arm and the plate locates thearm in a position overhanging the outwardly extending timing pinsDownward movement of the arm is limited by an outwardly extending stopmember td which is secured to the upright plate M. The outer end of theactuator arm M has a freely rotatable bearing roller 55 pivoted theretoand as is clearly shown in Figure 3 the roller overlies the timing pinsall and is adapted to be engaged thereby. The tim ing wheel rotates in aclockwise direction in Figure 2 and obviously as each timing pin movesbeneath the roller 45 the actuator arm ill is lifted upwardly; as thetiming pin moves from beneath said roller, the actuator rm returns toits nor-- mal or substantially horizontal position, with the downwardmovement of said arm being arrested by the stop id.

The extreme outer or free end of the pivoted arm M is provided with alug lit and this lug is arranged to engage the vertical depending leg llof a generally T-shaped element til. The element 48 is also formed witha relatively short horizontal arm 43a and a longer horizontal arm taband said element is pivoted on a pin as to the outer end of a valveoperating bar 5%. The Ell is pivoted on a screw iii which is secured tothe upright plate is and a suitable spacer 52 properly locates the bariii} and its pivoted hanger ll; in a position overlying the lug S6 atthe free end of the actuating arm. 7

An adjusting screw 53 is threaded downwardly through a supportingbracket which has one end secured to the upright supporting plate withits opposite end overhanging the element so that the arm itle of saidelement may engage the screw. The arms ids; and are of such weightwithrespect to the pivot point 55 that normally the member 28 assumes theposition shown in Figure 2 in such position, the leg t1 dependsvertically in a position overlying the lug all of the actuating arm Ill.

In the operation of the timing mechanism, the parts are normally in theposition shown in Figure 2, in which position the roller of theactuating arm fill has just one of the timing pins 38. At this time thevalve operating bar 5c is substantially horizontal and has verticalextension or leg sea which is adapted to co-act with the fluted valvestem or member 555 of a pilot valve 55. The pilot valve 555 suitablymounted on the upright supporting plate l8 and when the operating bartill is substa 'lally horizontal with its leg vertical. the valve member5i; is in a seated or closed position. A suitable adjustable screw 5'!is threaded through the leg 53c engages the end of the valve member 56to normall hold s id valve against seat 58 formed in an. angular assagein the valve body. With the operat bar a horizontal position, the hangermember at is in position with its leg All substantially vertical andoverlying the lug is of the actuatin ll.

As the clock mechanism operates to rotate the timing wheel 38, the nexttiming pin (til the roller d5 of the actuator ll swings said actuatorupwardly to the position shown in Figure 4:. Upward movement of theouter end of the actuator it results in the 1L1? All of said actuatorengaging the lower end of the vertical leg Moi the hanger element 48.The weight of the said diaphragm 27 as controlled by the regulator 6|,the diaphragm 29 will move downwardly to again seat the intermediatediaphragmover the opening 25 which as explained, willpermit closing ofthe valve.- Thus, it is possible for the mechanism to open or begin thetime cycle in accordance with the clock mechanism or rather,

the clock controlledtiming wheel and to close the main valveinaccordance with the pressure which occurs on the downstream sid in thesupply pipel;- Y In the event that the pressure on the downstream sideof the valve in pipe i5 does not exceed the predetermined pressure forwhich the mechanism is adjusted, then the valve i8 will remain openuntil the arm 48a of the pivoted connecting element 48 engages the stopscrew 53. When this occurs, the element 48 is swung to disengage the lug46 of the actuator so that the pivoted operating bar may drop to itsoriginal position to cause the leg 50a to move the valve element 58inwardly to close the pilot valve. When the pilot valve closes, thepressure in the lines 62 and 64 will again be built up to the samepressure as that in the line 65 and this will result in an equalizationof pressures across the intermediate diaphragm, whereby the upperdiaphragm 29 may again function to lower the intermediate diaphragm andclose the communicating opening or port 25. As explained, this resultsin permitting the coil spring 23 to again close the main valve. In thisinstance, the time cycle or the period during which the main valveremains open is controlled solely by the timing mechanism '1 and inaccordance with the adjustment of the limiting screw 53.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope ofthe appended claims, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A timing mechanism for a control apparatus including, a. pilot valve,a clock-controlled actuator arm having one end pivoted to a supportwhereby its outerend is adapted to swing in a vertical plane, anoperating bar pivotally mounted at one end with its free outer endoverhanging the outer movable end of said arm, means for connecting thearm to the pilot valve whereby swinging of the arm opens and closes saidvalve, and a connecting member pivoted to the outer end of the actuatingbar and adapted to be engaged by the operating arm, whereby movement ofthe arm is transmitted to the actuating bar to open the valve, and meansassociated with the connectin member for swinging said member todisengage the same from the operating arm after said member and the barhave moved a predetermined distance, whereby said member and barconnected therewith may return to a position closing the valve eventhough upward movement of the operating arm is continued.

2. A timing mechanism including, a clockcontrolled element, a valvemeans, an upright support, a control bar having one end pivoted to thesupport and overlying the valve means, means for connecting the barintermediate its end with the valve means, whereby swinging of the outerfree end of said bar actuates the valve, an actuating arm having one endpivoted to the support and having its outer free end located below theouter free end of the control bar and being engageable' by theclock-controlled element was to be swung thereby, a' connectingmemberpivoted to the outer end of the control bar and having a depending legwhich is normally disposed in the path of the operating arm, wherebyswinging of the arm imparts a swinging movement to the bar to actuatethe valve means, said connecting mem ber having a lateral extension, andan adjustable stop on the upright support disposed in the path of thelateral extension, whereby after the bar, connecting member andcontrolarm have moved apredetermined distance the connecting member is swung tomove its depending leg out of the path of the arm, whereby the controlbar may return to its original position closing the valve irrespectiveof whether or not the actuating arm has completed its swinging movementas con trolled by the clock-controlled element.

3. A timing mechanism including, a rotatable clock-controlled element,an upright support, a pair of pivoted actuating arms mounted in opposedrelation with their free ends directed toward each other, one of saidarms being disposed above the other and located so that its free endoverhangs the other, a valve means, means for connecting the upper armto said valve means whereby swinging of the arm controls opening andclosing of said valve means, the lower arm overlying and being operatedby the clock-controlled eiement, a connecting member pivoted to theupper arm and adapted to be engaged by the lower arm whereby swinging ofthe latter imparts a movement to the upper arm, and means independent ofthe lower arm for disengaging the connecting member from the lower arm,whereby the upper arm may return to its original position to actuate thevalve before the lower arm has completed its movement as controlled bythe clock-controlled element.

4,. A timing mechanism as set forth in claim 3, wherein the means fordisengaging the connecting member from the lower arm is manuallyadjustable whereby the time of actuation of the valve may be accuratelycontrolled.

5. A timing mechanism as set forth in claim 4, wherein the means fordisengaging the connecting member from the lower arm is a fixed stopscrew and a lateral extension on the member, which elements co-act toswing said member out of engagement with said lower arm afterpredetermined movement has been imparted thereto by the lower actuatingarm.

,6. A control apparatus for controlling the ad-- mission of fluid into aconductor including, a main inlet valve having a pressure-actuatedoperating element, means for conducting a pilot pressure to theoperating element, a flexible pressure-responsive member functioning asa valve means to control the admission of pressure to the operatingelement or" the main inlet valve and having its opposite sides normallyexposed to a regulated pilot pressure whereby pressures thereacross arebalanced, a second pressure-responsive member exposed to the pressure inthe conductor, a force transmitting means between said secondpressure-responsive member and the first pressure-responsive member,whereby the pressure acting on said second member is transmitted to saidfirst member to move the first member in a direction shutting offpressure fluid.

to the operating element or" the main valve to permit closing of thevalve when pressures across said first pressure-responsive member arebalanced, and time-controlled pilot means for unbalancing the pressuresacross said first pressure 11 responsive member .et predetermined timeintervals whereby said first member is actuated to die rest pressurefluid to the operating element to open the main inlet valve.

7. An apparatus as set forth in eiaim 6, wherein the cross-sectionalarea of the first pressureresponsiye member bears a predeterminedrelationship to the cross-sectional area, of the sec- {mdpressure-responsive member and is at. a larger area, whereby in theevent that pressure eeting 11 said second. member becomes excessive, thefirst mem er may be moved into s pe 12 shutting off pressure to theoperating element of the-main valve during the period that the timecontrolled means maintaining the pressures across the first memberunbalanced.

5 ASBURY s. PARKS.

'Referenees Cited the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 10Number Name Date 2,231,696 Wolfe Feb. 11, .1941 2,339,487 King We"---Jan. 18 1944

